Pat Foley

This is one place using the IDE Insight helps greatly. In the design window.

• use <F6> if your fingers are on the top row of the keyboard.
• or simply the <Ctrl .> if closer to bottom row. 
• type in Control name or Class type of control. 
• Select with Enter Key.  
• Press <F11> then the Object inspector finder is focused and type in property to edit.

Or  simply tab thru the controls, moving/sizing them with control keys Shift or Ctrl with the arrow keys.  Avoiding this practice in your case by simply pressing <F11> key instead. (Also verifies the tab order)

Or the Structure panel is either mouse able or arrow keys to avoid touching the controls with mouse in the design window.    

Or View revisions by selecting Alt-F12 and select History there. 🙂

5 hours ago, david berneda said:

So A and B don't know and don't use each other directly or indirectly, but the end result is for example a tabsheet created in B is displayed in A.

Use class names vs class types to avoid adding B in uses clauses. Existing controls and forms are renamed to fit existing inifile naming scheme. And as the controls loaded, if their parent is not found, they make one--example a Serie or line needs a Chart if not found we make a chart parenting it to the named form or control.  So all Tee.* is only in mainform BOSS uses. letting the Boss code update the charts and legends parented elsewhere.    

Use ComponentClass and add "fixup" and parenting later for UI controls and List<TMyControl>for non-visual controls.    

A startup inifile is embedded in file to allow the program to run in "Demo" when inifile not found. Mainly to build menu and tree Navigation. But more importantly reduce the need for global variables by using 'names'.

Then with empty uses clauses we stick in a DM needed to share Imagelist. and a Boss unit that reads in the controls needed. 

To fix your example set the tabstop to False on the Edit controls.   Better to set the Key = 0 when Key = VK_RETURN is handled to let the focus move to next control (Excel style moves to next cell on enter).  More important is have the tabs z-order end at a submit button that confirms the entries.     Sample's editkeydown handles the Edits and a Listbox  to let the user select the right item the first time rather a screen that covers not only the app but other running apps to fix typos.  Also the InputBox allows an edit of its items.     

procedure TForm1.EditKeyDown(Sender: TObject; var Key: Word; Shift: TShiftState);
var
  ii : Integer;
  s  :string;
begin
  var MoreZ := not (ssShift in Shift);

  if (Key = VK_RETURN) and (Sender is TEdit) then
  begin
    Key := VK_Tab;
    var Edit := Sender as TEdit;
    if not MoreZ then
        Edit.text := InputBox('Fixer', '?', Edit.text);

    SelectNext(Edit,MoreZ,True);
  end;

  if (Key = VK_RETURN) and (Sender is TListBox) then
  begin
    Key := VK_TAB;

    var LB := TListBox(Sender);
            SelectNext(LB,MoreZ,True);
    ii := LB.ItemIndex;
    if ii > -1 then

      s := LB.Items[ii]
    else
      begin
        s := 'Select something in' + LB.Name;
        MoreZ := True;
      end;

    if MoreZ and (ii > -1)
      then
        LB.Items[ii] := InputBox('lister', '?', s);
    end;
end;

Did you use Turbo pascal Programmers Library by Jamsa back then and and how about Ready-to_Run Delphi 3 Algorithms both mention using generic coding for code reuse back then should help in learning code reuse and simply reusing someone else code now.  Tstringlist.Commatext may be able to lift your old code and Format('%s,%,s', ['name', Number.tostring])to feed Stringgrid.Rows[0].commaText := 'name,Number'; 

18 hours ago, Freeeee said:

I got the idea from Microsoft.  There year zero date is 01/01/1980.

mine is 01/01/0000 .  good in a long integer (and a 5 digit year) until 31,999/12/31.

mmm,  I run win 11 are you still using DOS.  

procedure TForm16.Button4Click(Sender: TObject);
var
  SL: TStrings;    // F1 click bait
begin

   SL := memo1.Lines;
   for var aDate in [0, 1,2,3, 30000-2*365-32-17 , 30000, 40000, 50000, 100000] do
   begin
     SL.Add(DateToStr(aDate));
   end;
end;

1 hour ago, Stano said:

Note 2: in such cases I use a list of components. Your TLabel. Then you just need to do everything in a loop. And not list every Tlabel and line of the Tmemo.

By switching to Static text like a label but the advantage of windows handle so it be selected then you add a event to the win control like so.  F2 is an Edit control.  I'm sure Marco Cantu has much examples in his books.

procedure  TForm16.Clicker(Sender: Tobject);
begin
  EZ := F2.Text;
  (Sender as TStaticText).Caption := EZ;
  end;

procedure TForm16.RzButton1Click(Sender: TObject);
 var Labels: Array[0..9] of TStaticText;
 var stlabela: TStaticText;
begin
 var count:= 0;
 for var stlabel in Labels do
   begin

     Labels[Count] := TStaticText.Create(Self);

     stlabela := Labels[Count];
     stlabela.Parent := self;
     stlabela.SetBounds(24,20*count,50,23);
     stlabela.onClick := Clicker;
     stlabela.Caption := count.ToString;
     stlabela.Show;
     Inc(count);
   end;
end;

I actually looked at some JS code and Physics for Game Developers by Bourg for stuff on Quaternions.  The Model-3D sample may be a start. 

Years ago at a talk about making the Matrix movie the speaker said the stuff in background was all 2D "decals". And it takes three years of schooling for 3D. (Also even a graphic artist needs know linux to get hired.)  

procedure TModel3DTest.Form3DMouseMove(Sender: TObject; Shift: TShiftState; X,
  Y: Single);
begin
  if (ssLeft in Shift) and Mouse then
  begin
    DummyX.RotationAngle.X := DummyX.RotationAngle.X - (Y - Down.Y)* 0.3 ;
    DummyY.RotationAngle.Y := DummyY.RotationAngle.Y + (X - Down.X)* 0.3 ;
    Down.X := X;
    Down.Y := Y;
  end;
end;

What making One Application for now. And Run it Three times at a time.  

    set the Parameters     Data1.dat , Data2.dat, Data3 for first app.

    set the Parameters     Data2.dat , Data3.dat, Data1 for Second app.

    set the Parameters     Data3.dat, Data1.dat, Data2 for Third app.  

... procedure FindDeltas( const Param{1}, Param(2), Param(3));

   begin 

        Old code in here 

        

  end;

Is it a lazy steer that its 'looking' at?

What version I using 12.2 and tried this IDE insight and it works well with the keyboard.

• start Delphi
• Press <F6> and enter VCL
• Using down arrows select Windows Application
• Press<F6> enter VCL select VCL form
• Press<F6> Enter TButton 
• Repeat above as needed.
• Press<F6> Enter Help 

5 hours ago, Anders Melander said:

QuickJS is a javascript engine while pas2js is a transpiler that emits javascript.

 

Not even remotely the same thing.

You are right.  The files to look at is web.pas has var dom, console, and window. The js.pas uses JSValue and  parses JSON objects unsure if the eval can do multiline.   

What about Lazarus pas2js  

This screen capture Shows the source in the js.pas.  Its hid in the co..\pas2js\Demos   

2 hours ago, PeterBelow said:

One thing too keep in mind is the fact that form variables created by the IDE  do not get assigned any form reference if the unit is part of a package and the form is also not autocreated. If you create the form in code it is your responsibility to assign the created form reference to the variable if you intend to use it (which is a bad idea in the first place IMO).

Would not using global variables for any forms and using unique name for forms to use make it a better idea.  To reduce complexity a TreeView is loaded in mainform with nodes referencing the forms being created.  The Treeview can then be parented to the Active form to let the user navigate the app readily. A DM can help surfacing the data through the UI.         

You might to study and use this to move cursor to control being selected.  I want to add it to IDE <F6> or <Ctrl>.  function it only jumps to selection without any animation 🙂  

procedure TTaskmaster.moveMouse(AtaskDetail: TInstruction);
var
  x, y, MouseXError, MouseYError: integer;
  ControlCenter: Tpoint;
  AC: TControl;
begin
  findControl(AtaskDetail, AC);
  if not assigned(AC) then exit;

  if assigned(AC.Parent) then
    AC.Parent.Show;
  AC.Show;

  x := AC.ClientOrigin.X + AC.width div 2;
  y := AC.ClientOrigin.y + AC.height div 2;
  begin
    MouseXError := round(1.12 *(x - mouse.CursorPos.X));
        MouseYError := round(1.12 * (y - mouse.cursorPos.y));
//            MouseXError := min(MouseXError, 10 * sign(MouseXError));
//                MouseYError := min(MouseYError,  10 * sign(MouseYError));
    controlCenter.X := mouse.CursorPos.x + MouseXError;
    controlCenter.Y := Mouse.CursorPos.y + mouseYError;
    mouse.CursorPos := ControlCenter;
  end;
  repeatTask := (abs(MouseXError) > 7) or (abs(MouseYError) > 7);
end;

 This should yield control asked for. 

procedure TTaskMaster.findControl(AtaskDetail: TInstruction; var AC: TControl);
var
  ff, ii : integer;
  sForm, sControl: string;
begin
  with AtaskDetail do
  begin
    if Control <> nil then
      AC := Control
    else
    begin
      sForm := controlForm + ' not found.';
      sControl := controlName + ' not found.';
      //screens move about on windows list top window usually 0 :(
      for ff := 0 to Screen.FormCount - 1 do
      if Screen.Forms[ff].name = controlform then
      begin
        sform := controlForm;
        with Screen.Forms[ff] do begin
          for ii := 0 to componentcount - 1 do
          if Components[ii].Name = ControlName then
          begin
            sControl := controlName + ' comps ' + ii.ToString;
            Control := Components[ii] as Tcontrol;
            //onBS(False, format('Item %d Found %s',[ii,controlName]));
            break;
          end
          //else//if name
          //run := false;
          //  onBS(False, format('Item %d not found %s',[ii,  controlName]));
        end;// with screen forms
      end;  //if screen.forms
      onBS(False, sForm + ' ' + sControl);
    end;// else
  end;//with taskdetail
end;

What TInstruction is

  TInstruction = class  //position in Db
    Atom: PAtom;
    Control: TControl;
    ControlForm: string;   //3
    ControlName: string;   //2
    Description: string;//6
    //Nu: integer;       //0
    Kind: string;     //1  was integer
    KindNU: integer;
    referenceValue: Double;//5
    tagName: string;    //4
    tagValue: Double;   //no data in table
  end;

One thing about XML is on a treeview each node needs a unique caption so as tabSheets or the parent of control wanted are added a number is added to the node's caption as the forms are added.  

Second thing is the Control could have data reference added.  

type
  // On the UI controls side carry some data references for convenience
  // the data side could use Dependance Injection to tie in UI controls
  TDataButton = class(TButton)
    Form: TControl;
    Strs: TStrings;
end;

What's neat about MDI you can create a new childform inside a begin..end.  To access the form elsewhere use Application.Screen 

I used the code for reverse phone lookup that's for an xxx with xx,xxx outlook accounts.    

You need to make a custom list of clients, a Client group email and ... then as employees come and go you add remove their access to the companies Client email account.    

Or you could enhance your application by logging when clients are added, contacted, removed from client list.  I sent out emails and SMS each week to departments as client schedules were updated.  

Again I would use OutLook to make the output using export.

example mapping

https://jkp-ads.com/rdb/win/s1/outlook/mail.htm

Also here is some old (2017) Excel code from Ron's earlier site 

Sub DemoAE()
    Dim colAL As Outlook.AddressLists
    Dim oAL As Outlook.AddressList
    Dim colAE As Outlook.AddressEntries
    Dim oAE As Outlook.AddressEntry
    Dim oExUser As Outlook.ExchangeUser
    Set colAL = Outlook.session.AddressLists '("Offline Global Address List")
    For Each oAL In colAL
        'Address list is an Exchange Global Address List
        If oAL.AddressListType = olExchangeGlobalAddressList Then
            Set colAE = oAL.AddressEntries
            For Each oAE In colAE
                If oAE.AddressEntryUserType = _
                    olExchangeUserAddressEntry _
                    Or oAE.AddressEntryUserType = _
                    olExchangeRemoteUserAddressEntry Then
                    Set oExUser = oAE.GetExchangeUser
                   ' Debug.Print (oExUser.JobTitle)
                   ' Debug.Print (oExUser.OfficeLocation)
                  '  Debug.Print (oExUser.BusinessTelephoneNumber)
                   ' Range("A1").Offset(X, 1) = oExUser.JobTitle
                    Range("A1").Offset(X, 9) = oExUser.ID
                    'OfficeLocation
                    Range("A1").Offset(X, 8) = oExUser.MobileTelephoneNumber
                    'HomeTelephoneNumber
                    Range("A1").Offset(X, 7) = oExUser.Name
                    'Range("A1").Offset(X, 5) = oExUser.PrimarySmtpAddress
                    
                    X = X + 1
                End If
            Next
        End If
    Next
End Sub

Even holding the mouse over the symbol should show its unit and line!

// since I loaded it look how TStrings Visualizer vs the IDE code screen in rendering in 12.2  

One way is save as .pst file or .csv file inside of Outlook.

Second way is use VBA to learn the names of methods that Outlook uses to save lists in different formats.    

I think the issue lies in the coding, each series properties needed be updated consistently.  This example shows renaming the series and the labels to allow a consistent means of updating the control. Consistently meaning each control deals only with the data it was named and Created for.

procedure TForm1.Button1Click(Sender: TObject);
const labelAft = 'Afternoon';
 labelNite = 'Nite';
 labelDay = 'Day';
 ShiftDayFraction = 8/24;
 clNite = clRed;
var
  seDay, seAfternoon, seNight: TGanttSeries;
begin
  seDay := Series1;
  seAfternoon := Series2;
  seNight := Series3;

  seNight.Clear;
  seDay.Clear;
  seAfternoon.Clear;


  var addC: Boolean := CheckBoxBreakLabels.Checked;

  var startDate: TDateTIme := Now;
  startDate.SetTime(4, 0, 0, 0);



  seDay.AddGanttColor(startDate + ShiftDayFraction, startDate + 2 * ShiftDayFraction, 1, labelDay, clGreen);

  if addC then
    seAfternoon.AddGanttColor(startDate + 2 * ShiftDayFraction , startDate + 3 * ShiftDayFraction, 3, labelAft, clBlue);

  seNight.AddGanttColor(startDate, StartDate + ShiftDayFraction, 2, labelNite, clNite);

//  seNight.AddGanttColor(startDate, StartDate + ShiftDayFraction, 1, 'Sametimeline', clNite);

end;

So that it is found in the controls list of the control or component vs the components list of a form or application.  

Somewhere I have a control that draws a focus rect and tests rect intersect of all controls in componentlist to add to selected list. Just as lost is a control that draws a connector between selected controls  using clienttoscreen.  I will look for the controls later. 

I'll attach the mention control. Depending how you assign the mouse events either drop on the form or resize it manually the TCustomPanel does not have the align prop. Unsure why I was drawing the focus rect with DC back then.

I use a Tshape brush style set to bsClear and pen dotted line now.  

To reveal the markers add to source or set in Object Inspector

BorderWidth = 5

6 hours ago, Tom Mueller said:

I noticed that you reduce the size of the sub-control to display the markers correctly.

I should have included this

procedure TTestSelectMarker.WMSIZE(var message: TWMSIZE);
begin
 // FPanel.setbounds(10,10,Width- 2 * 10, Height - 2 * 10);
  Fpanel.Align := alClient;
end;

On 2/20/2025 at 2:15 AM, Tom Mueller said:

I have a control (TWinControl) that contains an other control (TPanel)

You need to add the paint event to draw the control in the IDE plus WMSIZE to allow sizing of controls being drawn.  Changing to descend from Tpanel allows working control base to add control to.  Later the control can be switched to TCustomControl or TWinControl. 

unit uTestSelectMarker;

interface

uses
 Classes, Vcl.Controls, Vcl.ExtCtrls, Winapi.Messages;

type

  TTestSelectMarker = class(TPanel)  //change to TcustomControl or TWinControl
  private
    FPanel: TPanel;
  protected
    procedure Paint; override;
    procedure WMSIZE(var message:TWMSIZE); message WM_SIZE;
  public
    constructor Create(AOwner: TComponent); override;
  end;

procedure Register;

implementation

uses
  Graphics;

constructor TTestSelectMarker.Create(AOwner: TComponent);
begin
  inherited;// Create(AOwner);
 Color := clBtnFace;

  FPanel:= TPanel.Create(self);
//  FPanel.SetSubComponent(True); // Uwe mentioned this in SO post 
  FPanel.Parent:= self;
  FPanel.BevelOuter:= bvNone;
  FPanel.Color:= clCream;
  FPanel.Visible := True;
end;

procedure Register;
begin
  RegisterComponents('Test',  [TTestSelectMarker]);
end;

procedure TTestSelectMarker.Paint;
begin
  inherited;
  FPanel.Caption := Name;
end;

procedure TTestSelectMarker.WMSIZE(var message: TWMSIZE);
begin
  FPanel.setbounds(10,10,Width- 2 * 10, Height - 2 * 10);
end;

end.